El Pirata counter service

[DisMN]

FYI for those who might be going soon....El Pirata, the counter service restaurant over by Pirates was open on our early Feb trip. VERY limited hours (11a.m.-4p.m.) and we've never run into it open before now in all our trips. LOL

I must say, we were pleasantly surprised with the food. We'd definitely repeat it again if only we can find them serving that day.

 

[Dixiemom]

Great! I have been planning for us to have lunch there next month!

 

[DisMN]

I hope you find it open. Seemed to be mid day ONLY. We got there at 3:55 and the closed the windows promptly at 4!!

 

[Dixiemom]

We eat a light breakfast so I suspect we'll be there by noon. We also have kids that are hungry 24/7....

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

It has the strangest hours yes! I think right at prime lunch time you should be ok - we just finally caught it on our last trip as well. DH said the tacos were pretty decent; I had the taco salad (literally shell and meat - then you go to the Fixins bar) which you can also get at Pecos Bill. But it is definitely a decent option if you can catch it.

 

[seadd67]

I am begining to think Its like a UFO!,you here about people eating there and yet I have never seen It open where going in hart of Summer,frist week of July so I am hopeing It will be open!!

 

[B-Ride]

I have never been able to figure out what "Open Seasonally" means. We visited on our 2nd trip and then went 3 years with it being closed.

It was open in August for the first time I can remember in 2009 but after the big buildup it was a bit of a let down. Not that the food wasn't good, it was just too darn messy. Probably our own fault for loading up everything but the kitchen sink.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

Never seen it open, but we'll be there in 2 weeks and I'd love to be surprised by a new place to eat. I had actually begun to think it is just a "pretend" restaurant.

 

[angelmav]

We caught this place for lunch a couple years ago, was a pretty good value with the fixins bar, but we saw plenty of people eating their stuff plain as the fixins bar is in another room and wasnt really obvious it was there.

 

[jeni16]

It has the strangest hours yes! I think right at prime lunch time you should be ok - we just finally caught it on our last trip as well. DH said the tacos were pretty decent; I had the taco salad (literally shell and meat - then you go to the Fixins bar) which you can also get at Pecos Bill. But it is definitely a decent option if you can catch it.

I've thought about eating here during our next trip as well. Something different than just the usual hamburgers/chicken served at other Counter Service locations.

I see that you said the taco salad was literally just a shell & meat and then you go to the fixins bar. Are the tacos served this way as well? What's all on the fixins bar? DH & I are both picky eaters so this sounds right up our alley.

Thanks!

 

[angelmav]

As I recall, Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and various salsas for sure. May have had onions and black olives too.

 

[TDC Nala]

"Open seasonally" doesn't mean any particular time. It means Disney will open it whenever they think the crowd warrants it.

I ate there a couple of years ago, had bean tacos. I am not a big fan of fast food restaurant ground beef. Nothing special, but pretty decent. Looked like they'd be good for vegetarians although I didn't ask what they put in the beans. I really wish they'd sell chicken tacos (but not if they decide to use dark meat - that would be just like Disney)

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

I see that you said the taco salad was literally just a shell & meat and then you go to the fixins bar. Are the tacos served this way as well? What's all on the fixins bar? DH & I are both picky eaters so this sounds right up our alley.

As I recall, Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and various salsas for sure. May have had onions and black olives too.

Yes - pretty sure DH's tacos were plain too. (As a former picky eater, I totally feel your pain!) Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, couple of salsas. I do not believe there were olives unfortunately. Might have been onions yes, but I don't like them.

 

[jeni16]

Yes - pretty sure DH's tacos were plain too. (As a former picky eater, I totally feel your pain!) Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, couple of salsas. I do not believe there were olives unfortunately. Might have been onions yes, but I don't like them.

Thank you! Hopefully they will be open when we are there.

 

[MMrules]

I ate my first taco salad there in Oct 1997. It was really good!!! I do remember we put what we wanted on it from the fixin' bar, but it was something fast other than just a burger or hot dog. I haven't seen it open since that trip, but we have been going later in the year.

Good luck finding it open, but if it ever is, I say try it so you can say you actually caught it open!!!

 

[PolyAddict]

We love this place and it is reasonably priced too!

We used to do Thanksgiving trips and then switched to late May early June and we always catch it open at some point during lunch.

yummo!

 

[2Tiggies]

Not that the food wasn't good, it was just too darn messy. Probably our own fault for loading up everything but the kitchen sink.

You need to time your fastpasses for Splash Mountain so that you are ready for a wash down straight after your meal